Monticello Road No DMB Clone

by Grant Britt

ESP Magazine

October 15th, 2003

Ever since Dave Matthews made a name for himself with his eclectic mix of world beat and pop, his adopted hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia, has become known for spawning bands that blur the lines between musical genres.

In the late '90s a group of friends who were attending UVA in Charlottesville started getting together to play music. The outfit began as the Rockfish band, but by 1999 had developed a following and was calling itself Monticello Road. The band is bassist Jason Marshall: Kyle Rannigan on guitar and vocals; Josh Manzano, drums; Adam Silvers on vocals, keys, and sax; Vaden Cox on lead guitar and vocals; and ex-Majahkamo sax and washboard player Jake Covington.

The band describes their sound as Southern rock with a college twist, but it is not exactly what most who were around at its genesis remember Southern rock sounding like - it's not dangerous enough, nor loud enough to be Skynyrd. It's more like Marshall Tucker goes to college up north.

It's an interesting mix of earnest, anthemic tone that the Blowfish boys graced so many frat parties with, but now and then you get a whiff of some jackleg whiskey and stale rear that lets you know these boys ain't no strangers to getting down. "Belmont Song Pt. 1" confirms that theory, managing to cram all their get-down creds into one sentence, declaring that the band is keeping Bud in business this year while kicking' it all night with that funky bluegrass sound and rolling with their homies - a Hootie in the 'hood feel.

If there's any high and lonesome here, it's well hidden. That reference may be included so that the band can still fit in the jam band category. Outside the washboard, there doesn't seem to be anything in the band's trailer for these boys to strum, pluck, or rattle that might provide anything remotely Monroe-ish.

The band warmed up in Charlottesville's Starr Hill Music Hall, which as well as hosting national its including Norah Jones, Sam Bush and Patty Griffin give opportunities to obscure bands who it believes are capable of making it big. Bolstered by their local success, the band has been touring the East Coast with bands including Virginia Coalition, Fighting Gravity, and The Blue Dogs.

Success has changed the band's outward appearance, if not their attitude. For the cover of their latest release, This Scripted Show, the band chose more traditional attire, dressing like businessmen complete with ties rather than naked rock and roll hooligans, but that look is apparently a fleeting affair. For conducting their day-to-day business, the band is clad in more traditional rock garb of T-shirts, but not just any shirts - the band sports tees from the same firm that designs the clothes that adorn the back of the Dave Matthews Band and their zillions of fans who want to look like them.

Whether wearing clothes or not, Monticello Road's business is still a pretty lively affair. "The Edge" from This Scripted Show has a U2 feel to it. "Lowdown" has a rough and ready Springsteen quality. Then there's the gritty, lowlife braggadocio of "Belmont Song Pt. II" - "we're just some gangstas who roll from the East Side."

It might not have a brand name affixed to it, but the vehicle that this quintet has chosen handles well on the highway they've built for it.